Our Vaccine Philosophy

Our practice believes that all children should receive the recommended vaccines according to the guidelines provided by the AAP and the CDC. Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing diseases and health complications in children and young adults. Regular vaccinations help children ward off infections, and are administered as one of the safest and best methods of disease prevention.

We are happy to discuss your concerns about vaccines at your child's next visit.

Recommended Immunization Schedule

Resources

Declining or Delaying Immunizations

Recent studies show that often parents make the decision not to immunize their infant based on information from friends and family. Certainly these are well meaning people, but not necessarily people with the most information to help make such an important decision. In this information era it seems as if we can learn anything in a few clicks of the mouse. This is an illusion. There is no way to become a microbiologist, immunologist, infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist with full time internet cruising for a year, let alone for hours.

Because this is a very important decision we ask you to think more about this. It is important to think about the implications of any decision. We want to ensure you have considered some of the more important possible consequences of your decision. We ask that you read over this material thoroughly. If, after considering this information, you still elect not to immunize or to delay any of the recommended immunizations we ask you to sign acknowledging you understand the possible implications of this decision.

All of the providers at Neighborhood Pediatrics recommend that our patients follow the immunization schedule created by the Committee on Immunization Practices of the American Academy of Pediatrics. This committee has reviewed the risks to our children and the safety of the vaccines, as well as the epidemiology of the diseases. The immunizations have truly decreased, but not eradicated, the illness that can threaten a child's life and well-being.

The worries about the safety of vaccines have not been proven. They are ideas put forth by people who have concerns but not any evidence. Anyone can put something on the internet, or propose a theory, and sometimes it sounds believable, or scary, but it doesn't make it true. To the best science of our time, there is no evidence that the vaccines are not safe.

These diseases are real. Each disease that we vaccinate against has the potential to lead to serious physical impairment or handicapping, or even death. Part of your decision making should include learning about each of these illnesses and their dangers. Not vaccinating, or delaying vaccination will leave your infant less protected against these pathogens.

Finally, we ask that you consider why we vaccinate in the first place. Vaccine science came out of the loss people felt when disease robbed human life. This awful outcome of disease is still possible today. When making decisions, it is often helpful to imagine yourself with the end result of either point of a decision. Not vaccinating protects you against any complication of vaccines (although there have been none proven), but puts a child at risk for any of the diseases for which he/she did not receive the vaccine. Imagine if your child did become unlucky enough to contract one of these illnesses. Imagine yourself sitting by the hospital bed, or ICU bed. Could you convince yourself you reasons for not vaccinating are strong enough?

For those who choose to decline or delay immunizations, we have parents review and sign this form from the Immunization Action Coalition documenting refusal to vaccinate.